NGO takes justice to remote communities

Small Producers Development and Transporters Association (Sprodeta) has underscored its commitment to facilitating justice to victims of gender-based violence (GBV) in remote areas in Chitipa District. To ensure speedy trial of GBV cases, the organisation facilitated a mobile court on Tuesday at Ibugulira in Traditional Authority Mwenewenya. On trial were four cases; three about GBV involving three couples and Chitipa second grade magistrate Siwonge Mike Lungu ruled that the couples should settle their disputes outside court.

In the fourth case, a couple wanted the court to rule whether the man they owed was right to hold their house as collateral and the magistrate ordered the couple to move into their new house. In an interview, Lungu said the purpose of the mobile court was to bring justice closer to the people so that they can access justice within reasonable distance since going to Chitipa Boma was difficult due to distance. “Mobile courts bring justice closer to people, but they are also part of sensitisation so that people should know that they have the right to access justice,” he said.

“In the past, GBV survivors were not reporting cases. But now there is significant change in terms of reporting,” he said. Chitipa District Council gender officer Rosemary Mahata commended Sprodeta for organising the mobile court session.

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“Gender-based violence is real. Marriage is a basic unit of a society and violence needs to stop because it affects the well-being of children,” he said.

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